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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEarly Years CARMEL CENTENNIAL PACE TWO THE HISTORY The town of Carmel, formerly known as Beth- lehem, is situated on the dividing line between Clay and Delaware townships, a part of the town lying in each township. It is ten miles southwest of Nob- lesville with which it is connected by the Indiana 'Union Traction interurban railway line, and good hard surface roads. It is also connected with other towns of the county, viz: Westfield and Sheridan by the Morion Railroad, U. S. cement road eonnsets with towns and cities north and south. The original plat of the town consisted of four- teen lots and was laid out on'April 13, 1837, by Dan- iel Warren, Alexander Mills, John Phelps and Seth Green. Z. Warren, son of Daniel Warren, gives the following account of "Starting a Town." "In 1837, my father set about starting a town here, being the in- tersection of the roads where four farms cornered, the southwest beipg his own. Two others, Alexander Mills, on the northeast, John Phelps on the southeast; w e re willing to have land platted and sell lots, but on the north- west the owner was unwilling. My fath- er offered him one hundred dollars for an acre, enough for four lots. That be- Carmel Before The lng a big price, he accepted it. Then the ground was platted and recorded under the name of Bethle- hem.'' "My father sold lots at whatever he could get for them in order to start the town. One he sold for five yards of home-made jeans of indifferent quality, and the purchaser was to build a house on it, and did of small round logs, the cracks filled with day and about large enough for a poultry house; but it filled the contract. "The post office was named Carmel, because there was one in the state by the name of Bethle- hem. In the early sixties when the town was incor- porated the name was changed to Carmel to accord with the name of the post office. Additions were made to' the original fourteen lots at various times. Among the first were those by Samuel Carey, 1849, by Nathan Hawkins, eight lots, 1857; eight lots by Isaac J. Bales and J. H. Davis and others. OF CARMEL ed to the town under the name of Carmel, the name being suggested by Levi Haines, Sr. The new towr~ received mail once a week by mounted carrier. Joseph W. Mary was the first postmaster. He served in the capacity for only one year. Lev[ Haines, Sr.i then was appointed and held the post ~till 1858. ttis s~eeessors were Isaac W. Stanton, Al- fred T. Jessup, John ti. Kenyon, Jonathan J. Grif- fin, and Alfred W. Brown. Then Z. Warren took charge of the office a few months as assistant, and in july, 1864, took full charge. He held the office until Nov. 28, 1885, and was then succeeded by Eli Binford during Clevelm~d's administration. Post office boxes were installed June 10, 1864. The stone year a bi-weekly and later a tri-weekly mall sys- tem wa,5 petitioned for and granted by way of Nob- lesville. At the same time a hack was run for the accom- modation of pas- sengers. Later the mail came via In- dianapolis, and then changed back to Noblesville t i 11 1883. In that year the Monon railroad went thru, north bound. The post- masters since 1885, include the follow- ing: Dessie Crago (Hershey), William Nutt, George Bow- Fire in 1913 eh, Alfred Rayle, Everett Stroud, Clyde Davis, Don Hobbs, Lester Hinshaw, Wyatt Carey, Olyde Davis, Harry Feath- erston, Hazel Applegate. The first house in Carmel was the Phelp's log farm house, which was built prior to the laying out of the town. The first frame house completed was erected on lot thirteen by Thomas Mills. It has since been torn down. There were several attempts at building frame houses previous to this, but the skeleton of the house, sometimes partially roofed, would stand just a "frame" until it rotted and be- coming unsafe, would be pulled down. The reason for this was the hard times, the owneL not being able to go on with that which he had begun. Carmel has always been, largely, a settlement of Quakers. It is thus mentioned in the Indiana Gazateer (1850) "Bethlehem, a small village in- habited mostly by Friends, in the southwest corner of Hamilton County." The first meeting for Divine worship ever he!d CAP~IEL CENTENNIAL TI--II HISTORY OF CARA EL (Continued from Page in the county was conducted by the Society of ]Friends in 1830 at a point a little north and west of Carmel in the south part of what is now the cemetery. About three years later a church buildLng was erected and called Ribhland. Benjamin Men- denhall named the house from his former home meeting in Ohio. Elizabeth Ann Stanton, daughter of Benjami~ Mendenhall, was the first child born among the Friends. The first marriage according to the cus- toms of the Ih'tends was that of William ttiatt and Mary Moon. In 1874, at a session of the county commission- ers, a petition was presented by the citizens of Beth- lehem asking to have the name of the town changed to Carmel, that being already the name of the post office, and that the town be authorized to hold an election for incorporation. The petition was granted aud the election was held March 21, 1874, resulting in a vote of thirty-three for incorporation and twelve against. Early in the history of Carmel, education, the best the pioneers could provide for their children was provided. Education has always claimed the first interest of the Friends. The schools of Carmel were for sometime connected with Union High at Westfield and the latter received many students and financial aid from Carmel and Poplar Ridge. The first school was opened in the old Friends church, built in 1833. At first a sheet was used as a door till sufficient lumber could be procured for the door. An addition was built to this house in 1835, which doubled its seating capacity. For heating, the early worshipers used boxes of clay and mortor in which they burned charcoal. Later they put in plain box stoves. The homes were heated by huge fire- places. The cooking also was done in fireplaces. The first grist mill in Carmel~ we are told, by Z. Warren, was built by Benj. Mendenhall, on the ~reek.east of town, and it is said later the Wise boys had a stream circle mill there. The first steam mill in Carmel was built by Samuel Carey, Jos. Macy and Bohan Harvey in 1847. This was a sash mill. the logs being hauled up into the second floor on an inclined plane. After the Monon railroad came, T. E. Carsy and W. P. Nixon erected a flour mill, which was later operated by R. J. Follett & Co. The first dry goods store was opened by Boggs & Boggs, the store room being a log cabin. This opening of the first store wasa great event in a lit- tle town. Even before the floor was laid or shelves had been placed in the log cabin, the young men gathered there to discuss the "great event." Some molasses and sugar, mackerel, blacksmith's iron, dog: irons, odd lids for skillets and ovens, calico, eoars~ muslin, called "factory", bandana handkerchiefs, jew's harps, bonnet boards and wires, iron lamps,. etc. Boggs & Boggs did not remain only about a year, then at other times, various persons kept a store for short periods of time, with a period in be- tween, when there was no store in Carmel: But after a time, Levi Haines, Sr.; opened a store in the original store building and later went into partner- ship with Caleb Harvey. From that time on, Car- mel never was without a store. Later merchants included Little~ Drum & Anderson, Elijah King, Sylvanus Carey, Josiah King, Frank King, Pucker & Stanley, and T. A. Painter, and others. James Stanley opened a drug store in the early 60's. David Kinzer opened the first variety store at an early date. The first blacksmith shop in the community was that of Barnaby Newby. Others in the smithy business later included Moses Puckett; Enos Haines, Jas. P. Cook, Richard George, John Patty, Sr., Joh~ A. Haines, David Ste~vart, Albert Haines, and oth-. ers. The first shoe maker was Geo. Gibson. Joseph Wilson was the pioneer harness maker, while Asaph Hiatt began the window sash business. Wm. Frost, who was a tailor in the forties, took up the practice of dentistry. The first carpenters were Thos. Mills, John West and Jos. W. Macy. The first house paint- er and paper hanger was Wm. 8. Warren. In 1857, Simeon Hawkins operated a tile factory in Carmel. Among tile early regular physicians are found the names of Dr. Woodward, the two Viekrys, L. S. Campbell, S. C. Dove, J. S. Losey, J. L. MeShane, Daniel Carey, C. W. Cook, George Kane, Zenas Carey, N. G. Harold, C. W. Mendenhall, and later, K. C. t][ershey, 1892; F. C. Hershey, 1894; Ross Cooper, 1910; W. F. Baker, 1920, and C. M. Dona- hue, 1927. There have been several destructive fires in Carmel at different times; The first building thus to go was Terry Tempin's little grocery. The sec- ond was John W. Crew's shoe shop. Others were saw mill of John E. Buck, Laycock's saw mill, the residence of Mrs. Kesiah Roberts in 1898, and the millinery store and nearby law office of L. J. Patty. John Jeffries livery barn burned in July, 1905, and before this fire could be checked the rest of the block south of the Interurban railroad track also went up in flames. As there was no regular fire department in Camr~el at this time, a fire was a very serious affair. In March, 1913, fire was discovered PAGE TEN CARA~EL CENTENNIAL JOHN KINZER Was born near Kinzers in Lancaster County, Pa. He lived here until manhood and married Mary Deerdorf after which they moved to Ohio and lo- cated in Highland County, and followed the calling of a farmer. He and his wife reared seven children, as fol- lows: Jacob, David, Daniel, John, Margaret, wife of David Ockerman, Sarah. wife of John Bailey, and Catherine, wife of Daniel Davis. · The grand parents were members of the Dunk- ard church. John Kinzer was born in 1804, and was reared on a farm and remaining with his father until he was twenty-one. In 1828 he came to Indiana with his cousin, Jacob Kinzer, and located in Hamilton County, Delaware township, without friends or money. He entered a small tract of land from the government a n d worked by the month to pay for the property. About 1830 he married R u t h, daughter of Wil- liam and Mary _~Moffitt Wilkinson and a native of Randolph County North CaroIina. Her parents were natives of England and settled in the South In 1855, Jacob Kinzer, a cousin, went on to Iowa, where his son and a number of his grandchildren now live. After his marriage, John Kinzer cleared and improved his land to whieh he added from time The Kinzer Homestead to time until his land possessions amounted to a great many hundred acres of land. He and his wife reared seven children, Wil- liam, Mary, the wife of Sylvanus Cerey David, ,Jacob, Levi, Sarah, the wife of Louis Metsker, and Ira J. Kinzer. John Kinzer's death ocurred in 1850, and his wife passed away ten years later. We have not yet been successful in finding heirs or history of I~aniel, David and Jacob. Margaret, who married David Ockerman, has descendants, some of whom live at Kokomo, Ind. Sarah, wife of John .Bailey, has a son, David Bailey, living at Ashland, Ohio. Catherine, wife of Daniel Davis, died without leaving any heirs. The grandchildren of John Kinzer and their descendants for a number of years have lived on the land near the o I d homestead, which he built in 1828. These descend- ants have met for a number .of years for a reunion. John Kinzer's mother continued to llve in Highland County~ Ohio. She lived to be about 97 or 98 years old. A granddaughter Sarah Metsker, vis- ited her when she was about 95. She then lived alone m a house built in the yard of her daughter. She did her own work and was a great walker, going 2 or 3 miles. She was what is called "Dutch" and her Bible was in that language. RURAL LIFE IN 185 7 Activities on a pioneer farm, one mile east of Bethlehem now (Carmel) in Hamilton County, Ind. It is the fall months, and the prices of ali farm produce is ata low level on account of money mat- ters and good crops. Wheat is now selling at 65 cents, corn, 25 cents; cattle, 2 cents; hogs, 3 cents, and eggs at 5 cents per dozen. Markets were lower in winter. Farmers worked on the public roads, hauling gravel and grading. similar crops, that was not harvested as yet. On Nov. 7, a rain of 4 inches made the river too high for the Tuesday mail to be delivered from Noblesville. Volunteers who had a good riding horse made the trip once a week. Timber was plentiful, and wood cutting for the town people and the farm folks was a pressing duty. School opened on Nov. 23 and dosed on Feb. 23 for three months. This was a subscription school held at Rural Valley, and taught by Isaac Harold. PAGE sIXTEEN CARA~EL CENTENNIAL TI-II: COMMITTEES Wilmer Stanley ..................... President Russell Fisher ................... '- .....Secretary Harriet Jeffries ...................... Treasurer I-Iarrie Watson, Traey Morris. Advertising l-Ioward Morris, Chairman; Marcus Kendall, Har- riet Jeffries, Harry Symons., Concessions Lester Hinshaw Robert Follett Exhibits and Display AgricultUre and Horticulture--Fred Zell, Chairman, Leland Jessup, Tracy Morris, Curtis Collins. Boys 4-H Club-- J. Warren Harvey. Girls 4-H Club--Edna Mae Ottinger, Chairman, Neva Hensel, Ruth Jene Hinshaw, Nettie Lan- FIowers--Irlal Thomas, Chairman; Nellie Wells,. Mable Myers, Mrs. Max Adams. A~:~tiques and Relics--American Legion Auxiliary, Pearl Haines, Chairman. Home Economics and Style Show--Olive Bruner,. Chairman, Eva Nutt, Edith Morris, Mildred Featherston, Rose Hattery, Mrs. Delman Ot- tinger, Edna Mae Ottinger, Grace Featherston~ Margaret Patterson, Minnie Morris. Pageant and History--May Kenyon, Chairman,. Mildred Newlin, Jason Newlin, Jane Haines. Program and Entertainment---Geo. Stout, Chair- man, Rue Hinshaw, Roy Ottinger, John Smatt. Decorations--Glen Smith, Edgar Kincaid, Wyant Carey. Parade--Frank Hattery, Chairman, Robert Dear- dorf, Harrie Watson. TI-IE PROGRAM 2:00 o'clock--Pet Parade. Boys Bicycle Race. Girls Bicycle Race. Boys Roller Skate Race. Girls Roller Skate Race. Special Music by Red Dickerson Orchestra. Band Concert. Special Home Talent Features. Special Music by Red Dickerson Orchestra. Sack Race. Boys Three Legged Race. Boys and Girls Foot Race. 12:30-12:45--Morris Iticks. ~: 00--Parade. 2:30--Style Show. Band Concert. Special Home Talent Features. Home Coming at Different Churches. Sunday, 2:00 P. M.--Carmel High School Building. TI-II: PAGEANT, "CARMEL" 1837 1937 The pageant, to be given Sunday afternoon, is a brief review from days of pioneer life to the pres- ent, modern times. The characters and scenes are adapted to the various periods. The program of scenes is as follows: Song. Scene I. The arrival of the Pioneer. Scene II. The Home of the Pioneer. Scene III. The Indians arriving to welcome the pale fare man. Scene IV. The Friends Church Reading .............................. The Methodist Church The Circuit Rider. The \Vesleyan Methodist Church. Scene V. Platting the Town. Selling the lots. Scene VI. The Old Time School. Scene VII. The Singing School. Scene VIII. The Home. Scene IX Civil War Scene. Scene X. The Death of Lincoln. Scene XI. The Gay Nineties. Scene XII. The World War. Scene XIII. School of Today. PAGE EIGHTEEN CARNiEL CENTENNIAL TIlE HISTORY OF CARA I L (Continued from 'Page 6) early one Sunday morning in the rear of the old post office building. A west wind was blowing, car- rying the fiaxnes eastward. The fire spread quickly till it seemed the whole eastern part of town would go. The news went to Noblesville at six in the morn- ing that "all Carmel w~ burning up," Happily the blaze did not prove as disastrous as that, though the rest of the block to Main Street and north, in- eluding Kinzer's store and the Odd Fellow's build- ing was totally destroyed before the flames eould be checked. Sometimes a calamity such as this fire, seems irreparable, but Carmel built again over the ashes of a bad fire a better and more enduring business section, all brick to replace the frame structures. Then the old bucket brigade was later organized into the present efficient fire department. The Ford fire truck was purchased in 1920 and the Reo in 1922. With Rue Hinshaw at the head of the fire department, the fire fighters have done some most effective work in Carmel and surrounding commun- ity. Two fires in business places were cheeks before great damage was done. In February, 1936, the rear of ttoward Morris' cleaning establishment was badly damaged, 'but the flames did not spread. In February, 1937, fire broke out in the basement of the bank building and the drug store, hosiery shop and beauty shop were all dmnaged by smoke and fire. The Masonic hall on the second floor also was damaged by smoke. The fire department ~rept the fire from spreading, doing most efficient work. Carmel put in a complete city water system in the summer of 1930, getting the supply from deep wells. Gas was piped to the town in 1933; electricity has been ir/Carmel since 1904. Having all the mod- ern utilities in Carmel, gives it all the advantages of a city without the disadvantages. In the last few years there has been quite an influx of residents from the city to Carmel and suburbs. Carmel today is a prosperous town with a steady, healthy growth. The last census giving the population at 682. But that does not include the surrounding suburbs. Carmel is a real live business town. Carmel merchants have customers from In- dianapolis and other towns. Some of the present businesses include, Foster & Kendall Feed & Seed Co., Allen A. Wilkinson, Mill, O. W. Nutt, Hard- ware and Undertaking, Hinshaw Garage, Floyd's and Regal Groceries, Sink's & Horton's Meat Mar- kets, JewetUs & Morris', Men's Furnishings, Jane Itaines, Dry Goods & Gifts; Tottleben's Drugs; Evans Cafe, and Graves Lunch Room, and Jeffries Pool Room; Bedel's Shoe Shop. Morris Filling Sta- tion and Smith's, and others. Carmel is a modern little city with comfortable and beautiful homes, ~ell kept lawns. The main streets well paved. There are no rich aristrocrats in Carmel and no dire poverty. Carmel really had no depression. The bank failure was the nearest to a calamity that struck. But, the people of Carmel make the town what it is today. The most livable, loveable town in the best state in the Union. --.lane Haines. HISTORY OF CARMEL FRII::ND$ CHURCI-I The Old Riehland Friends Church. The early follo~vers of George Fox sought refuge in America in the latter half of the 17th century. ia, down through Virginia into the Carolinas. I~ow- ever, when the question of slave holding became very acute, Quaker consciences were thoroughly aroused and the North West Territory seemed to call them. Many came to Indiana Territory, several of them settling in this community. Although these pioneers gathered for worship weekly in the different homes, they felt very soon the need of an authorized meeting and requested White Lick Quarterly Meeting, the one nearest, to grant them an Indudged Meeting under the super- vision of Fairfield Monthly Meeting. Permission was granted in 1830. Then in 1833 a Preparative Meeting was estab- lished with Jonathan Phelps as clerk. At the sug- gestion of Benjamin Mendenhall it was named Richland in memory of his home meeting in Ohio. PAGE TWENTY CARMEL CENTENNIAL CARMEL AND EDUCATION The Old Richland School Carmel. known' as Bethlehem a hundred years ago. was settled by the type of people who had .abundant faith in the three fundamental institu- lions of society, the home, the church, and the school. Thus. when a score or more homes had been built in the forest, a feeling of need for a place of worship aud a place where the children could be educated led to the building. 1833. of af log meet- lng house which served also as the first school house. This building was doubled in size in 1835. It stood on the ground now occupied by the Carmel celne- tery. This church and school was known as Rich- land. A y~ar or two later, a log school house was built on the west side of what is ~ow State Road 431, on ~round now occul~ied bv the north end fillino~ sta- About 1845, a frame school building was built near the cross roads north of Carmel, which was used until 1868 or '69 when the brick Carmel Acad- emy was erected on the lot now occupied by the Wesleyan Methodist Church. During the Sixties, a smM1 frame school build- ing was built south of Carmel on the east side of the road and was used for the elementary grades for a time after the brick Academy was built. In 1887 a aiew Carmel High School building was completed in the south part of town. For thirty-six years this building served the educational needs. In 1923, the preseut modern school building was completed. S. A. Hodgen, trustee of Clay town- ship. and Bert Evans (deceased), trustee of Dela- ware townshiD, led in the joint construction nro~ PAGE T*vVENTY-T%VO CARA~EL CENTENNIAL CARMEL AND EDUCATION (Continued from Page 20) ject. The Carmel High School Alumni Association Championed' the landscaping project which helped to give to Carmel one of the most beautiful educa- tional institptions in central Indiana. The O,ld School South of Carmel. The history of education in Carmel consists of more than mere fasts about stru~ctures of wood or brick or stone. The men and women who have pro- vided the leadership as administrators and teachers, and the student groups that have passed through these hails of learning and have gone out into life to bless the world by lives of service, have combined to justify abundantly the initial cost and the eon- tinued liberal support of education which has al- ways characterized the Carmel community. It is interesting to record that one who was a student in the brick Carmel Academy from 1872 to 1876, and who became the popular and success- ful principal of the sa~ne school from 1883 to 1886, is still an honored resident of Carmel--our own J. F. Haines. The last year in the oht north end Cannel Academy and the first four years in the high school building in the south part of town, 1887 to 1892, were administered by David Wells, now living at Marion, Indiana. Mrs. Minnie Rhoades Kinzer, now a resident of Pasadena, California, will be remembered as one of the great teachers of the "90's." The writer had the honor and good fortune to serve as teacher and administrator in the Carmel schools from 1892 to 1896 and again from 1931 to 1933. Mr. Earl Hinshaw, now teaching in the high school of Lafayette, Indiana, a native of Carmel, has the honor of the longest service as principal of the Carmel school. Mr. Chester F. Quear is the present successful principal of the Carmel school, having served since 1933. Space forbids the listing of every principal and teacher who have made worthwhile contribution to the life of the community during the past one hun- dred years. · he New School in Carmel. Long may the Carmel School continue its fine service. John S. Hussey, Superintendent of Hamilton County Schools. Congratulations CARMEL PAGE TWENTY-SIX CARMEL CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CARA EL FRIENDS CHURCH (Continued from Page Al Stanton, the first Quaker child born in this set- tlement. In 1841, Richland Monthly Meeting was es- tablished with Levi Haines and Lydia P. Cook as clerks. Richland Quarterly Meeting was established in 1868. It was composed of Richland, Poplar Ridge and East Branch (now nmned Gray) Monthly Meetings. In 1833, the Preparative Meeting erected the first place of worship, a one room log house, 18 by 20 ft., located on the south side of the present ceme- tery. In 1835 another room of the same size was added. A new frame building was constructed on the same ground in 1845, and the church now, oc- cupied by Friends was dedicated March 4, 1893. The New Richland Friends Church. The early Friends had a silen~ worship service, the women sitting on one side and the men on the other. For business sessions there was a shutter partition which could be closed so that the business could be transacted separately. There was no auth- orized speaker or planned program for the worship service, but many spiritual and inspiring words were spoken by various ones. showing that much time was spent by Friends in prayer, medita}ion, and the reading of the Scriptures. A little later tha~ 1850. Richtand Monthly Meeting minutes record that a Friend expressed a coucern that they were lacking in systematic study of the Scriptures and that it would be well for old and young alike to meet together before or after the meeting for worship to study the same passage and exchange ideas. The ~eeling was that such a period would be helpful to all who attended. Mary Col- lins, Grace Thomas, Deborah Haines, Jermina Stan- ley, Martha Lancaster, Elizabeth C. Bond~ Rachel Stafford, Elizabeth Wilkinson, and Elizabeth Wilson were appointed to superintend the starting of a First Day Scripture School. In 1890, Samuel Mills became the first pastor of Richland Meeting. He was followed by Levi Cox, Clark Brown, John Griffin, Mary Miars Harold, Thomas Brown, Lydia Hoath, Minnie Bassett, Lew- is McFarlin, Gertrude Reinier, Willis Bond, David Hadley, ~rthur Hammond, Lewis Stout, Gertrude Rcinier, Nettie Springer, Alpheus Reese, Orley Smith, Mary tIiatt, John Compton, and Donald Spitler. who is now serving as the twenty-first pas- tor. Very early in the Religious Society of Friends the subject of education claimed its attention. Many academies were established and entirely man- aged by them. Richland asademy was located across the street on the south of the early meeting house. In 1837 a town was platted and recorded under the name of Bethlehem. In 1846 a Post Office was granted under the name of Carmel, as there was already one Post Office in the state by the name of Bethlehem. Later the town was incorporated as C~rmel to accord with the name of the Post Office. The name of the Friends Meeting was changed from Richland to Carmel in 1891. The records of Carmel Friends Church show it has p~;rticipated in the activities of the Friends Church at large, prison reform, equality of sexes, universal education, abolition of slavery, pursuance of peace, world brotherhood, missionary work, tem- perance reform, and evangelistic work. "We .love our Church, O God; Her walls before Thee stand, Dear as the apple of Thine eye, And gTaven on Thy hand." --Rhoda C. Roberts. Mike Cato From Wholesale Dealer of Bananas REGAL PAOE TWENTY-EIGH1 CAP~I~EL CENTENNIAL CARMEL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH The Methodist movement began in Carmel, Ind., in the winter of 1857-58 under the direction of Rev. L. P. Berry, of Noblesville. Under the direc- tion of this messenger of God a class was organized, which was characteristic of the early Methodists, and regular preaching services were held in the homes of Robert Cutt and Dan Smith. Later a lot was donated to the Methodist, for the erection The Methodist EloiscopaI Church of a Church building, by Willis Atkins. Upon. this tract of land was built a hewed log Church, which was used for a number of years. After the log church was disbanded the society continued to ~hold its meetings in school houses and private homes until, in 1871, a modern frame building was erected. This building stood until 1906 on the same site as the home of John Hines now stands. It was an unpre- tentious building with a small Belfry on top and a partial foundation underneath, but an adequate building for a small group of humble Methodists. This little church building was the scene of many manifestations of the Saving Grace of God and from its altars went many sinners saved by Grace. In 1905, the present cement block building was erected and the old building was sold and moved one-half block east of the present Library where it still stands unto this day as a dwelling. The great contribution of the Methodist Church to the Carmel community cannot be ex- pressed in material terms. Through the many years it has had ministers and laymen who have stood for righteousness, purity, temperance, and the high- est in Christian citizenship. Today this Church has a membership roll of over two hundred full members, besides the baptized children and preparatory members. It has an an- nual budget of over two thousand dollars, one of the nicest parsonages in the North Indiana Conference, an active Epworth League Chapter, a Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, a large Sunday School enrollment, an organized Ladies' Aid, and preach- ing services twice a Sunday. This church has had a great part in the building of the Carmel community in days gone bye a~nd it has all indications of eon- tinuing this noble service in the future. The Wednesday Litm'ary Club (Continued from page 24) We still hold our meetings every two weeks from September until May, with our minds keen for the duties assigned each member for the year's work. During all the years of the Club's activities we have lost but four members by death. There are two Charter Members who still be- long to the Club, Ada P. Follett and Elizabeth P. Day. --Elizabeth P. Day. PATRONIZE THE ADVERTISERS i